Pencil sharpener



00L 30, 1951 E. J. MARKVART ET AL 2,572,875

PENCIL SHARPENER Filed Feb. 21, 1949 Invanl'rs' .Edwin JMar-Zvart AwwwPsozm@ Patented Oct. 30, 1951 PENCIL SHARPENER Edwin J. Markvart andAndrew P. Solem, Rockford, Ill., assignors to Spengler-LoomisManufacturing Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication February 21, 1949, Serial No. 77,562

(Cl. 1Z0-96) 16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pencil Sharpeners and more particularly thewell known type incorporating two substantially cylindrical cutters indiametrically opposed converging relationship.

A demand has arisen for a pencil Sharpener capable of being adjustedreadily to produce different degrees of sharpness of pencil points, sothat the user is not confined to a standard sharpness of point, whichmay not be suited to his or her particular needs or for the particularkind of pencil being used. We are aware that efforts have been made byothers in this direction, but

their designs of pencil Sharpeners have been too complicated andexpensive to manufacture or were limited to use of a single cutter,being not at all practical if applied to the conventional two-cuttertype Sharpener mentioned above. For example, in one of the prior designsthe spacing of the converging cutters was increased and the cutters werearranged to cut all but the point portion of the lead, while anauxiliary cutter, functioning as a combination pencil stop and pointcutter, was adjustable axially between the converging ends of saidcutters into the space there-between, the auxiliary cutter having asubstantially V-shaped cutting edge to sharpen the end portion of thelead to a sharp, blunt, or medium point according to the length of leadleft protruding from the Wood as predetermined by the adjustment. Theconverging cutters, being of hardened tool steel, and the auxiliarycutter being also of hardened tool steel, the need for increased spacingof the converging cutters is self evident; any rubbing of the auxiliarycutter on the other cutters Would soon render the same too dull for goodoperation. On the other hand, the auxiliary cutters V-shaped cuttingedges were adapted only to do a scraping operation on the lead, not atrue cutting operation, with the result that gouging would occur,particularly7 with softer leads and crayons, and breakage wasinevitable. It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of ourinvention to provide a pencil Sharpener having the two convergingcutters in a normal closely spaced relationship as required to performthe entire cutting operation independently of any auxiliary cuttingmeans, and having a stop plate of unhardened metal axially adjustablebetween the closely spaced inner ends of the cutters for abutment withthe pencil point to limit the insertion of the pencil and, accordingly,predetermine the sharpness or bluntness of the point that will beproduced when the pencil is sharpened. The stop plate is hollowed outarcuately on opposite .sides lengthwise on a radius bearing apredetermined relationship to the radius of the cutters to provideoperating clearance, although an occasional slight amount of rubbingcontact with one or the other of the cutters could do no harm, due tothe fact that the cutters are hardened, Whereas the stop plate isunhardened. In addition, the stop plate is preferably slotted length-Wise of a portion of the hollowed portion, to give additional workingclearance for the more closely spaced drive pinions on the inner ends ofthe cutters throughout the range of axial adjustment of the stop plate,there being left a web at the inner end of the hollowed portion of thestop plate to afford a stop for abutment with the pencil point. Withthis construction adequate working clearance can be allowed in thediametrically opposed grooves in the cutter frame for slidably receivingthe opposed longitudinal edge portions of the stop plate, so that thestop plate may be adjusted easily and there will be no likelihood forthe same to stick or bind. Furthermore, this construction enablesobtaining close enough setting of the stop plate in every instance toobtain the precise sharpness of point desired, a1- though simple andinexpensive means are employed (using only standard threads and easilyproduced parts-no keys, pins, spring plungers, special cams, et cetera)to operate the stop plate, it being necessary only to locate the platelongitudinally, not radially and longitudinally.

Another important feature of our invention is the provision inconnection With the axially adjustable stem of friction drag means forholding the stem releasably and yet reasonably securely in adjustedposition.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Fig. 1 is a vertical section lengthwise through a pencil Sharpenerembodying our invention, the usual chip receptacle being removed;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the stopplate in end elevation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are a face view and side view, respectively, of the stopplate on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the stop plate on the same scale as Figs. 3 and4, indicating by dot and dash line circles milling cutters, by means ofwhich the opposite sides are holloWed out up to and including the stopend of the plate Figs. 6, '1, 8, and 9 are fragmentary sectional detailscorresponding to a portion of Fig. 1, but showing other friction dragmeans;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line lll-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation on a larger scale of a portion of Fig. 1, tobetter illustrate the pencil point markings on the adjusting stem, thisView being related to Fig. 11a showing the pointed end of a pencil, thepoint of which has been sharpened in accordance with the setting of thestop plate indicated on the stem in Fig. 1l, and

Figs. l2 and 12a are views similar to Figs. 1l and lla, showing adifferent setting of the stem and the correspondingly blunter pointobtainable.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referring first to Figs. l to 5, the reference numeral I8 designates thestandard for the pencil Sharpener, which has the usual attaching flangeor base portion i9 on one end and a hub portion 2B on the other endadapted to support the usual chip receptacle, it being common practiceto provide a bayonet lock connection between the hub 2B and the chipreceptacle, so that the latter may easily be removed from time to timeto empty the contents and be as easily replaced. A bearing 22 isprovided in the hub 20 for the drive shaft 23, which has a reducedexternally threaded portion 2d, onto which the internally threaded hubportion 25 of a hand crank 26 is mounted to provide a driving connectionbetween the crank and shaft. The shaft 23 has integral therewith a frameor yoke 21, which includes a neck portion Z on its outer end inconcentric relation to the shaft portion 23 through which the endportion cf a pencil to be sharpened is entered. Two diametricallyopposed, substantially cylindrical, helical milling cutters 29 aremounted in the frame 21 in converging relation on spindles 30', and havedrive pinions 3| fixed on the inner ends thereof which mesh with aninternal gear ring 32 that is suitably fixed in a recess 33 providedtherefor in the hub 20, so that the cutters are caused to turn on theirspindles as they are revolved with the frame when the same is turned bymeans of the crank 26. The diametrically opposed side portions 34 of theframe 27 extend in inwardly converging relation, at a slightly largerangle than the cutters, so as to provide lateral support for the taperedend of the pencil as the pencil is sharpened and fed inwardly by hand,or otherwise. It has heretofore been common practice to provide on theframe 21 within the chip receptacle a stop for abutment with the pencilpoint, working between the inner ends of the cutters in front of thedrive pinions, to limit the inward movement of the pencil and provide agiven sharpness of pencil point, the stop being usually in the form of abell-crank member pivoted on the frame with one arm or linger thereofreaching inwardly between the cutters to act as the stop, thisbell-crank member being set at the factory in a xed position by bendingthe other arm of the bell-crank member at the time of assembling theSharpener. However, a demand has arisen for a pencil Sharpener capableof being adjusted readily externally to produce diiferent degrees ofsharpness of pencil points, so that the user will not be confined to astandard sharpness of point, which might not happen to be suited to hisor her particular need, or might not be best adapted for a particularkind of pencil being used. For that reason efforts have been made toprovide a stop readily adjustable from the outside of the pencilSharpener, but, as has been pointed out before, the designs proposedhave been too complicated and expensive to manufacture and were notpractical as applied to the. 2.0.1.1.-

lcutting edges thereon are accurately ground with a special undercut fordurability and knife-like cutting on wood and lead alike. Furthermore,as indicated by the dot and dash lines a and b in Fig. l, the inner endportions of the cutters have a slight taper so as to enable making alonger point, as at 35, on the pencil than would be permitted were thepoint a direct continuation of the taper 36 on the end of the pencil 3i,as illustrated in Fig. lla. The sharpness of the pencil point must,therefore, be determined, at least in part, by the closeness of spacingof the inner ends of the cutters 23, and, obviously, that leaves verylittle room through which to operate any adjustable step means forabutment with the pencil point to predetermine by the setting thereofthe sharpness of the point by predetermining the length of the leadbeyond the taper of the wood on the pointed end of the pencil. Thislimitation upon the design of a pencil Sharpener with anoutside-operable point Sharpener adjustment is what led othersheretofore to conclude that the pencil Sharpener would have to besubstantially completely redesigned to the extent of utilizing thecutters 23 to cut all but the point portion of the lead and providing aseparate axially adjustable blade with a V-shaped cutting edge on theinner end thereof to cut the point on the lead to whatever sharpness ofpoint was desired and predetermined by the adjustment of this blade.This blade was necessarily a hardened blade and precautions had to betaken to insure against its coming into contact with the revolvingcutters, and that explains the change in the spacing of the revolvingcutters to the extent where they were capable of attending to only apart of the cutting operation. However, we have found a much morepractical solution to the problem, by providing not a blade but merely astop plate 33 of unhardened metal axially adjustable between the closelyspaced inner ends of the cutters 2E), the close spacing of which, forthe purposes previously mentioned, is left unchanged. The stop plate 33is of elongated form, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and has a T-slot 39provided in its outer end for a swivel operating connection with theannularly flanged head provided on the inner end of the adjusting stem4I, which has an enlarged threaded portion 42 intermediate its ends nextto the head il@ threaded in the axial bore 43 provided in the shaft 24.rEhe stop plate 38 is slidable freely in grooves it provided indiametrically opposite sides of the restricted inner end portion 45 ofthe bore d3, and has the inner end thereof hollowed out lengthwise onopposite sides arcuately, as indicated at 46, by ooining the same and/orfeeding the same lengthwise between .two closely spaced milling cutterslli, as indicated by the dot and dash line circles in Fig. 5, themilling cutters 4l being slightly larger in diameter than the cutters23, so as to leave a few thousandths of an inch clearance between thestop plate 38 and the cutters 23, and still leave a'at surface 43 on theend of the stop plate 38 wide enough toserve as a limiting stop forabutment with the: end of the pencil point in any position of adjustmentof the stop plate within its normal range.`

of adjustment relative to the cutters. An e1ongated slot 50 is cutlengthwise of the hollowed portion leaving a web 5| at the inner end ofthe plate on which the stop face 49 just mentioned is afforded. The slot59 assures ample working clearance for the pinions 3|, so that therewill be no likelihood whatever of any rubbing contact with the teeth onthese pinions, which, of course, would mean noise in the operation ofthe pencil Sharpener in addition to wear on the pinions and unnecessarydrag on the operation of the sharpener. On the other hand, since thereis only a few thousandths of an inch clearance between cutters 29 andthe web 5|, and also in view of the fact that the plate 38 is slidablefreely in grooves 44, the plate may occasionally touch one or the otherof the cutters, but no harm will be done by this because the stop plate38, as stated before, is of unhardened metal whereas the cutters arehardened.

In operation, when the stop plate 38 is adjusted to the extremeretracted position, shown in Fig. 1, the sharpest and longest point,illustrated in Fig. lla at 35, is producible, and it is obvious that thecutters 29 perform the entire cutting operation on the wood and lead.The sharp tip of the pencil point 35 abuts the flat end surface 49 onthe stop plate 38, and in that way the sharpening operation is limitedboth by engagement of the tapered end portion 3S of the pencil on theconverging sides 34 of the frame 21 and by abutment of the tip of thepencil point 35 on the stop surface 49. Now, on the other hand, if thestop'plate 38 is adjusted inwardly by means of the stem 4| to anyposition within the range of axial adjustment of the plate, it should beevident that the pencil point produced will accordingly be shorter andblunter, as illustrated by the point 35a in Fig. 12a, the entiresharpening operation being taken care of by the cutters 29 in the sameway as previously described, and the insertion of the pencil being againlimited both by abutment of the pencil point with the stop plate 38 at49 and by abutment of the tapered end portion 36 of the pencil shaftwith the tapered side portions 34 of the frame 2l.

Referring now to Figs. l, 11, and l2, attention is called to theknurling of the outer end portion 52 of the stem 4| to facilitatethreading the same in and out in the adjustment of the stop plate 38.Extending inwardly from the knurled tip portion 52 are circumferentiallyspaced triangular markings 53, which may be knurled, etched, enameled,or otherwise set oi in contrast to the smooth and shiny portions 54therebetween. These markings 53, which form a part oi the subject matterof a divisional application filed in the name of Arthur W. Gillespie,Serial No. 162,082, led May 15, 1950, correspond to the sharpness of thepencil point 35 (Fig. 11a), and they are so arranged on the stem 4| withreference to the hole 55 in the hub 25 of the crank 26 that when thestem 4| is adjusted to its fully retracted position, as in Figs. 1 and11, the whole markings are visible and the operator can see from thatthat the longest and sharpest pencil point is obtainable with theSharpener when the stem 4| is so adjusted. However, when the stem isthreaded inwardly to an intermediate position, as illustrated, forexample, in Fig. l2, the triangular markings 53 have their apex portionsmore or less hidden in the hub 25, depending upon how far inwardly thestem has been threaded, and in thatway there is indicated to theoperator a blunter pencil point producible with the sharpener when thestem is so adjusted, the shortened markings 53 in Fig. 12 correspondingto the blunter point 35a illustrated in Fig. 12a.

Referring again to Fig. 1, attention is called to the washer shown at94, which is of rubber or any other suitable compressible resilientmaterial and arranged to be compressed between the reduced externallythreaded end portion 24 of the drive shaft 23 and the end wall 65 on thehub 25 when the crank 2B is tightened. This washer normally has a closefit on the stem 4|, but, by reason of its compression in the mannerstated, has an even tighter t on the stem 4|, so that it serves to holdthe stem against being turned accidentally, or by reason of inertia, inthe operation of the crank 26. The compression of the washer 64 alsoreduces likelihood of the crank 26 loosening once it has been properlytightened. In that way the operator is assured of obtaining the pencilpoint desired whenever he has proper-\ ly adjusted the stem 4|. Themetal washer 64 protects soft washer 34 from abrasion by the end of thethreaded portion 42 of stem 4 l.

The friction drag obtained by the Washer 64 may also be obtained by awasher 64a of rubber, or other suitable compressible resilient material,caged in the hub 25h of a crank 25h, as illustrated in Fig. 6, andarranged so that it has a tendency to hug the periphery of the stem 4|on its internal diameter, and also to engage tightly on its externaldiameter the smooth portion 66 of the bore in the hub 25h. In otherwords, the washer 64a is compressed radially between the stem 4| and-hub 25h, so that it exerts a compressive force on the stem and anexpansive force on the hub. Substantially the same results areobtainable with this construction as with the one described in theprevious paragraph. Here again, metal washer 64 protects soft washer64a.

In Fig. '7 we have shown a coiled compression spring 61 disposed in thecounterbore E8 in the hub 25e of another crank 26e and abutting theenlarged threaded portion 42 of the stern 4 Ob- Viously, when the stem4| is fully retracted, this spring 61 is compressed to its fullestextent and exerts a frictional drag to resist turning of the stem 4|.Substantially the same results are obtainable with this construction aswith the two described in the previous two paragraphs.

In Figs. 8 and 10 we have shown a spiral spring 69 which has a centralcoil 'I9 hugging the stem 4| to resist by its compressive force turningof the stem, and which has an outer coil 1| engaging the smooth portionT2 of the'bore of the hub 25d with suflicient expansive force to resistturning of the spring with respect to the hub. so that substantially thesame effect is obtained as with the washer 64a of Fig. 6.

In Fig. 9 we have shown a volute spring 13, the large end 'I4 of whichhas abutment with the hub 25e, and the small end l5 of which hasabutment with the enlarged threaded -portion 42 of the stem 4| to resistturning of the stem in substantially the same manner as the spring 61 inFig. '7.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

. We claim:

l. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a head rotatably mounted onsaid support, a pair of diametrically opposed substantially cylindricalmilling cutters carried by said head with their cutting faces inconverging relationship to form awasvs a 'tapered space between saidcutters, said cutters being of sufficient length and disposed closeenough together to' perfor-m the whole sharpemV Aing operation on apencil, and an elongated stop plate of rectangular form guided by itslongitudinal edge portions in grooves provided therefor on said head forendwise movement substantially axially thereof in a plane between theconverging ends of said cutters, the inner end portion of which plate isarranged to project into the small end of the tapered space between thecutters and has a fiat end face for abutment with the tip oi a pencilpoint.

2. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a head rotatably mounted onsaid support, a pair of diametrically opposed substantially cylindricalmilling cutters carried by said head with their cutting faces inconverging relationship to form a tapered space between said cutters,said cutters being of sufficient length and disposed close enoughtogether to perform the whole sharpening operation on a pencil, and anelongated stop plate of rectangular form guided by its longitudinal edgeportions in grooves -provided therefor on said head for endwise movementsubstantially axially thereof in a plane between the converging ends ofsaid cutters, the inner end portion of which plate is arranged toproject into the small end of the tapered space between the cutters andhas a flat end face for abutment with the tip of a pencil point, saidstop plate being of unhardened metal and hollowed out on opposite sidesto provide operating clearance relative to the cutting faces of saidmilling cutters, the latter being of hardened metal.

3. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a head rotatably mounted onsaid support, a pair of diametrically opposed substantially cylindricalmilling cutters carried by said head with their cutting faces inconverging relationship to form a tapered space between said cutters,said cutters being of suicient length and disposed close enough togetherto perform the whole sharpening operation on a pencil, the inner endportions of said cutters which cut the lead of the pencil being taperedso that the point produced by the cutters is of smaller angle than thetapered end on the wood of the pencil produced by the cylindrical mainportion of the converging cutters, and an elongated stop plate ofrectangular f form guided by its longitudinal edge portions in groovesprovided therefore on said head for endwise movement substantiallyaxially thereof in a plane between the converging ends of said cutters,the inner end portion of which plate is arranged to project into thesmall end of the tapered space between the cutters and has a flat endface for abutment with the tip of a pencil point.

Il. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a`

head rotatably mounted on said support, a pair of diametrically opposedsubstantially cylindrical milling cutters carried by said head withtheir cutting faces in converging relationship to form a tapered spacebetween said cutters, said cutters being of suiiicient length anddisposed close enough together tc perform the whole sharpening operationon a pencil, the inner end portions of said cutters which cut the leadof the pencil being tapered so that the point produced by the cutters isof smaller angle than the tapered end on the wood of the pencil producedby the cylindrical main portion of the converging cutters, and anelongated stop plate of rectangular form guided by its longitudinal edgeportions in grooves pro--A fio vided therefor on ,Said head for endwisemovement substantially axially thereof in a plane between the convergingends of said cutters, the inner end portion of which plate is arrangedto project into the small end of the tapered space between the cuttersand has a flat end face for abutment with the tip of a pencil point,said stop plate be ing of unhardened metal and hollowed out on oppositesides to provide operating clearance relative to the cutting faces ofsaid milling cutters, the latter being of hardened metal.

5. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear fixed onthe support with which pinions xed on the cutters have meshingengagement, whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, and an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and havinga swivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to movethe same selectively in either direction a selected distance, the swivelaffording a substantially positive operating connection between the stemand plate without interfering with the freedom of sliding movement ofsaid plate in the aforesaid grooves.

6. A Sharpener as set forth in claim 5, including means frictionallyresisting turning of said stem relative to said journal in eitherdirection, whereby to prevent an accidental change in setting of saidstem.

7. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear fixed onthe support with which pinions fixed on the cutters have meshingengagement whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, and an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and havinga swivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to movethe same selectively in either direction a selected distance, the swivelaffording a substantially positive operating connection between the stemand plate without interfering with the freedom of sliding movement ofsaid plate in the aforesaid grooves, the outer end portion of said stembeing of reduced diameter and projecting axially with Working clearancethrough an opening provided in the hub portion of the handle andproviding a knob for direct manual adjustment of said plate from outsidesaid Sharpener, there being an annular shoulder defined at the inner endof the reduced end portion of said stem which serves to limit outwardadjustment of said stem relative to the hub portion of the handle.

8. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear fixed onthe support with which pinions fixed on the cutters have meshingengagement whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion xed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having aswivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to move thesame selectively in either direction a selected distancathe swivelaffording a substantially positive operating connection between the stemand plate without interfering with the freedom of sliding movement ofsaid plate in the aforesaid grooves, the outer end portion of said stembeing of reduced diameter and projecting axially with working clearancethrough a center hole provided in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, there being an annular shoulder defined at the inner end of thereduced end portion of said stem, and friction means housed in the hubportion between said wall and the outer end of said journal arranged tobe engaged by said annular shoulder to limit outward adjustment of saidstem while resisting turning of said stem in either direction.

9. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear xed onthesupport with which pinions xed on the cutters have meshing engagementwhereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate of rectangular formslidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions in grooves providedtherefor in said journal for endwise movement axially between saidcutters into said space for abutment of its inner end surface with thepoint end of a pencil, rotatable handle having a hub portion fixed onthe outer end portion of said journal for turning said frame, anadjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having a swiveloperating connection with the outer end of said plate to move the sameselectively in either direction a selected distance, the outer endportion of said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a washer ofcompressible resilient material compressed between the wall of the hubportion and the outer end of the journal and crowded radially inwardlyinto tight frictional contact peripherally of the stem.

10. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, V.a frame including ahollow driven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projectingthrough a bearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably insaid frame in converging relationship forming between them a space, a

gear fixed on the support with which pinions xedi on the cutters havemeshing engagement whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said .journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having aswivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to move thesame selectively in either direction a selected distance, the outer endportion of said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole in a wall on the hu-b portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a washer ofcompressible resilient material which is distorted radially so that itsradially outer portion tends to expand and has tight frictional contacton its outer periphery within said hub and its radially inner portiontends to contract and has tight frictional contact peripherally of saidstem.

l1. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end 'portion rotatably mounted in and projecting througha bearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in saidframe in converging relationship forming between them a space, a gearfixed on the support with which pinions fixedon the cutters have meshingengagement y whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having aIswivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to movethe same selectively in either direction a selected distance, the outerend portion of said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of Said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a spiral spring whichis distorted radially so that its radially outer portion tends to expandand has tight frictional contact on its outer periphery within said hub,and its radially inner portion tends to contract and has tightfrictional contact peripherally of said stem.

12. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear fixed onthe support with which pinions fixed on the cutters have meshingengagement whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having aswivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to move thesame selectively in either direction a selected distance, the outer endportion of said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a volute spring whichis compressed and surrounds the stem, the spring having its small endfrictionally engaging an annular shoulder on the stem and having itslarge end frictionally engaging the wall of said hub around the centerhole.

18. A pencil sharpenercomprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear fixed onthe support with which pinions xed on the cutters have meshingengagement whereby to 'drive said cutters, an elongated plate oirectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion xed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having aswivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to move thesame selectively in either direction a selected distance, the outer endportion of said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a washer ofcompressible resilient material compressed Ybetween the wall of the hubportion and theouter'end of the journal and crowded radially inwardlyinto tight frictional contact peripherally of the stem, the structureincluding a protecting wear-resisting washer of substantiallynon-compressible material surrounding the stem on the opposite side ofsaid rst washer from the wall of the hub portion.

la. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a frame including a hollowdriven journal end portion rotatably mounted in and projecting through abearing on said support, milling cutters carried rotatably in said framein converging relationship forming between them a space, a gear xed onthe support with which pinions i'ixed on the cutters have meshingengagement whereby to drive said cutters, an elongated plate ofrectangular form slidably mounted by its longitudinal edge portions ingrooves provided therefor in said journal for endwise movement axiallybetween said cutters into said space for abutment of its inner endsurface with the point end of a pencil, a rotatable handle having a hubportion fixed on the outer end portion of said journal for turning saidframe, an adjusting stem threaded axially in the journal and having a.swivel operating connection with the outer end of said plate to move thesame selectively in either direction a selected distance, the outer endportion oi' said stem projecting axially from the outer end of saidjournal and through a center hole 4in a wall on the hub portion of saidhandle, and friction means housed .in the hub portion between said walland the outer end of said journal resisting turning of said stem ineither direction, said friction means comprising a washer ofcompressible resilient material which is distorted radially so that itsradially outer portion tends to expand and has tight frictional contacton its outer periphery within said hub and its radially inner portiontends to contract and has tight frictional contact peripherally of saidstem, the structure including a protecting wear-resisting washer ofsubstantially non-compressible material surrounding the stem on theopposite side of said rst washer from the wall of the hub portion.

15. A pencil Sharpener comprising a support, a head `rotatably mountedon said support, a pair of diametrically opposed substantiallycylindrical milling cutters carried by said head with their cuttingfaces in converging relationship to form a tapered space between saidcutters, said cutters being of -suicient length and disposed `closeenough together to perform the whole sharpening operation on -a pencil,and an elongated stop plate of rectangular form guided by itslongitudinal edge portions in grooves provided therefor on said head forendwise movement substantially axially thereof in a plane between theconverging ends oi said cutters, the inner end portion of which vplateis arranged to project into the small end of the taperedjspace betweenthe cutters vand has a nat-end face for abutment with the tip -of apencil poi-nt, said stop plate being of a material -appreciably softerthan that of the milling cutters and hollowed out on opposite Asides toprovide-operating clearance relative to the cutting faces of saidmilling cutters.

l5. VA `pencil sharpener vcomprising a support, a head rotatably`mounted on said support, a pair -ofdiametrically opposed substantiallycylindrical millingcutters carried by said head with their cutting facesin converging relationship to form a tapered space between said cutters,'said cutters being of suiiicient length and disposed close enoughtogether to perform the whole sharpening operation Yon -a pencil, theinner end portions of-said cutters which cut the lead of the pencilbeing tapered so that the point produced by the cutters is of smallerangle than the tapered end on `the wood of the pencil produced by thecylindrical main portion of the converging cutters, and an elongatedstop plate of rectangular form guided by its longitudinal edge portionsin grooves provided therefor on said head for endwise movementsubstantially axially thereof in a plane between the converging ends ofsaid cutters, the inner end portion of which plate is arranged toproject into the `small end -of Ythe tapered space between thecuttersand has a flat end face for abutment with the tip of Va pencil point,said stop plate being of a material appreciably softer than that of the-milling cutters and hollowed out on opposite sides -to Aprovideoperating clearance relative to the cutting faces of said millingcutters.

EDWIN J. MARKVART. ANDREW P. VSOLEM.

(References on 4following page) REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date Thefollowing references are of record in the 2438'628 Yerkes Mar' m 1948 meof this patent: FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS Number CountryDate Number Name Date 1' 156,265 Great Britnln Apr. 4. 1922 1,872,476Loveland Aug. 16, 1932 573,095 Germany Mar. 27, 1933 2,066,693 Newell etal. Jan. 26, 1937 203.560 Switzerland May 1' 194 2,146,890 Frederick Feb14, 1939 701,636 Germany Jan. 21, 1941 2,463,767 Fleming oet. s, 1946,167121799 Germany Oct- 25- 1941 2.4341870 v Solovieg JmL 20l 1943 217.789Switzerland NOV. 15, 1941

